Tripod.



Patented Sept. I9, |899. H. HEITMANN.

TRIPOD fApplicmon med Feb. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Wvmesses Mmmm UNITED STATES PATENT Ottica.

HENRY IilEl-TMANN, OF MIAMISBURG, OHIO.

TRIPOD.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N. 633,284, dated September19, 1899.

Application filed February 23, 1899. Serial No. 706,475. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HEITMANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Miamisburg, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvcmentsin Tripods; and Idohereby declare that the followin gis a f ull',clear,and exactdescription of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in photographers tripods; and theobject thereof is to provide a tripod that is very light and may beconveniently carried about the person and at the same time is verystrong and d'urable.

The parts comprising the tripod are devoidof clamps or screws and may beeasily connected and disconnected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tripod having theabove advantages that maybe made and sold ata minimum cost.

In a detailed description of my invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ofy myimproved tripod. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the telescopiclegs. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the legs 'extended Fig. 4 is a View ofone of the upper telescopic sections. Fig. 5 isaview of one of theuppermost sections. Fig. 6 is a View of two sections, one of which hasthe button or projection and the other the engaging notches. Fig. 7 isan end view of one ofthe sectionshaving thebutton orprojection. Fig. Sis a plan view of the table or head.

In the following specification similar reference charactersindicatecorresponding parts.

The legs are in several sections each, and consist ot' telescopic tubes1, 2, 3, and 4, made of cold-drawn steel tubing, one tube fitting andsliding within the other. The legs made in this manner are very lightand combine a proper amount of strength, so that they can be carriedwithout in the least being burdensome. Each of the said tubular sectionshas a longitudinal slit 5 on one side and a Series of notches 6extending into the metal on one side of said slit. 7 designates a deepercut in the edge ofthe metal, extending from where the slit 5 terminatesat a ct, Fig. G, and pro` viding space for the buttons 8 to move in whenadjusting the legs. The said buttons or projections 8 are formed on theupper porL tion of said tubes, with the exception of the uppermosttubes, and are made by cutting a tongue in one of the slitted edges andbending it over, as shown in Fig. 7. The said buttons or projectionsmove in the slot of each upper adjacent tube when lengthening orshortening the legs, and the said buttons may be interlocked with thenotches 6 by turning the sections having the notches until the buttonsenter said notches. The tubes interlocked in this manner are preventedfrom slipping up or downward and are held securely at any desiredposition.

9 designates a table or head, which consists of a metal disk or platehaving three openings 10 in its edge, into which the uppermost sections1 of the legs are placed. Vhen the said openings are formed, there areprovided at the entrances thereof two inwardly-projected prongs 11,which narrow the said entrances, as shown. The said prongs project inabout one-sixteenth of an inch each. The uppermost sections 1 of thetelescopic legs have openings 12 on each side in line with each other,and a portion of said upper sections is eut out to provide shoulders 13,which tit against the under side of thettable and against the edgewithin the openings 10 when the said sections are connected to saidtable. rlhis connection is effected by contracting or pressing the upperends of the sections together suthciently to allow said ends to enterthe openings 10 far enough to permit the prongs 11 to enter the openings12 in said sections. ln this position the ends of the legs thuscompressed are allowed to expand and the legs become securely held bythe prougsll. The shoulders 13 fit against the under side and edge ofthe table. The legs connected in the manner described are allowed tospread out as may be desired, but after they are drawn toward each otherand strike a certain angle they are held in position firmly with thelower shoulder 13 against the lower side of the table. In the center ofthe table there is a metal screw 141-, to which the camera may besecured.

A tripod constructed in accordance with the foregoing description isvery light and when set up is very rigid and strong. The construction istotally devoid of any clamps or screws and is therefore easily adjustedand put into position. Each leg may be drawn out or pushed in to thedesired length, thus enabling artists to place the tripod partly on thesidewalk and partly in the gutter, oron a hillside it can be made tostand straight and the table occupy a level position by an easyadjustment.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In a tripod, the combinationwith a table, of legs consisting of telescopic sections each of the topsections having a pivotal connection with the table, and all of theupper sections being provided with slots and notches, a button orprojection on the upper portions ol each oi.' the sections below the topSections adapted to engage with the notches on each adjacent uppersection, and shoulders on the top section adapted to engage with thetable to limit the swinging movement of the legs.

2. A tripod, comprising a table, telescopic legs, the top section ofsaid legs having a pivotal connection with the table, the top andadjacent sections being provided withlongitudinal slots with notchesextending therefrom, buttons or projections on the upper portions of thesections below the top sections adapted to engage with the notches inthe upper adjacent sections to lock said sections in position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY IIEITMANN.

W il nesses:

R. J. MCGARTY, W. 1S. NnvIN.

